Jobs/Appointments
Strive Masiyiwa Becomes First African on Netflix Board
By Adedapo Adesanya
The global streaming platform, Netflix, has appointed the Group Executive Chairman and founder of Econet, Mr Strive Masiyiwa, to its board.
The appointment has made Mr Masiyiwa the first-ever African to join the board of directors of the company.
Mr Masiyiwa is Zimbabwe’s richest businessman with an estimated net worth of $1 billion and leads mobile telecom giant Econet Global’s operations in over 20 countries across Africa and Europe.
Currently serving on several international boards including the Global Advisory boards of Bank of America and Stanford University as well as chairing the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, the Zimbabwean telecommunication mogul brings with him a wealth of managerial experience to the Netflix directorate.
Speaking on his appointment, Netflix Chairman and co-CEO, Mr Reeds Hastings, said, “We are delighted to welcome Strive to the Netflix board. His entrepreneurship and vision in building businesses across Africa and beyond will bring valuable insights and experience to our board as we work to improve and serve more members all around the world.”
His appointment comes a week after Ms Susan Rice, former US ambassador to the United Nations, disclosed she would be quitting her role on the Netflix board to join US President-elect, Mr Joe Biden’s administration in January 2021.
He also remains the only African member of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum’s Committee on Conscience.
Born in Zimbabwe, Mr Masiyiwa had his higher education at Edinburgh, Scotland before obtaining an Electrical Engineering degree at the University of Wales in 1983.
After working for about a year in the ICT industry at Cambridge, he returned to Zimbabwe in 1984 to work as a telecoms engineer for the country’s telephone company.
He later quit his job and founded his own telecom company, Econet Wireless in 1993. But Mr Masiyiwa’s Econet could not secure an operating licence until 1998 when it finally ended telecom monopoly in Zimbabwe after a five-year legal battle with the late Robert Mugabe-led administration.
In the same year, the telecoms tycoon listed Econet on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange, making it a publicly-traded company. Since then, he has remained at the helm of affairs of Econet Group. He also owns a 50 per cent stake in Africa’s largest fibre optics business, Liquid Telecom.
Speaking on his appointment, he said, “Netflix is at the forefront of bringing great entertainment from anywhere in the world to everyone in the world, and I look forward to working with the board and all stakeholders to continue its traditions of innovation and growth.”
Globally recognised as one of Africa’s most prolific philanthropists, Mr Masiyiwa donated $10 million earlier this year in funding and support to over 1,700 healthcare workers to aid the response against COVID-19.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
A prominent fashion entrepreneur, Mrs Adenike Ogunlesi, has been appointed to the board of Unilever Nigeria Plc as an independent non-executive director.
A statement from the company disclosed that the appointment became effective Monday, March 24, 2025, with expectation to tap from her wealth of experience to move the organisation forward.
Mrs Ogunlesi is a trailblazing entrepreneur, corporate leader, and changemaker whose visionary leadership has redefined Nigeria’s fashion, retail, and manufacturing industries.
As the founder and Chief Responsibility Officer of Gatimo Limited, she has built a legacy of innovation and excellence, establishing Ruff ‘n’ Tumble as a premier fashion brand celebrated for its craftsmanship, creative ingenuity, and deep-rooted commitment to African heritage.
With over three decades of transformative leadership, she has pioneered modern retail practices, garment manufacturing, and brand storytelling, positioning Nigeria on the global stage while nurturing a generation of entrepreneurs. Her work transcends business—she is a mentor, public speaker, and advocate for sustainable enterprise, women’s leadership, and ethical governance.
Mrs Ogunlesi’s leadership at Gatimo has transformed the company into Nigeria’s leading garment manufacturing powerhouse, producing over 1,500 garments daily.
Under her stewardship, the company has set new benchmarks for quality, sustainability, and African-inspired fashion, driving an industry-wide shift towards homegrown excellence.
As the founding president of the Network of Entrepreneurial Women (NNEW), she established a groundbreaking platform that empowers women entrepreneurs through mentorship, funding access, and advocacy, creating pathways for female-led enterprises to flourish.
Her influence extends beyond fashion, serving on the boards of Lafarge Holcim Plc, Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) at Lagos Business School, WISCAR (Women in Successful Careers), and Garment and Accessories Manufacturers of Nigeria (GAMAN).
Through these roles, she drives policy advocacy, ethical governance, and industrial development, shaping Nigeria’s business landscape for sustainable growth.
Mrs Ogunlesi is a sought-after keynote speaker and thought leader, inspiring audiences with her profound insights on entrepreneurship, leadership, and the future of African industries.
She is a certified Family and Life Systems Coach and Neuro-Linguistic Programming Coach, equipping individuals and businesses with tools for transformative success.
Her educational journey spans globally renowned institutions, including IE Business School, Lagos Business School, and Gordon Institute of Business Science, where she honed her expertise in corporate governance, strategic leadership, and retail management.
By Dipo Olowookere
Following the retirement of Mrs Oluwatomi Somefun from Unity Bank Plc after the completion of her tenure as the chief executive, the board of the financial institution has appointed Mr Ebenezer Kolawole, as her replacement in an acting capacity.
The appointment of Mr Kolawole was announced at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the lender in Lagos on Wednesday.
He will lead the company armed with more than 30 years of industry experience.
The bank has already obtained the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to have the appointee take over the position.
He has the primary responsibility to finalise the company’s ongoing corporate programmes and other strategic business initiatives of the institution.
Mr Kolawole joined Unity Bank in 2015 as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and became the Executive Director for Finance, Operations and Information Technology in February 2018.
While on the board of Unity Bank, he helped in the company’s strategic transformation and cost optimization initiatives, which enhanced the firm’s performance and market feasibility.
The acting CEO began his financial services career at Caribbean Finance Limited (an affiliate of CFL in Cayman Island) in Kaduna in 1992, and later joined Ecobank, rising to the position of Deputy Financial Controller after working in various departments of the bank, both operations and finance suites.
He later moved to Standard Trust Bank (STB) and worked at various strategic areas, including operations, regulatory risk management and finance suites and played a pivotal role in the STB/UBA merger and served as the CFO of the new entity, UBA.
Mr Kolawole, thereafter, worked at Mainstreet Bank as CFO and then moved to Globacom, a telecommunication company owned by Mr Mike Adenuga.
He is a member of several professional bodies, including: Fellow of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA); Fellow, Institute of Credit Administration, (FICA), Honorary Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (HCIB), Associate Member of The Nigeria Institute of Management (AMNIM); Member of the Institute of Directors etc.
Mr Kolawole graduated from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife with a holds a First-Class (Hons) degree in Accounting.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The Executive Director for Finance and Business Development at Academy Press Plc, Mrs Oluwakemi Ogunnubi, has been elevated to the position of Deputy Managing Director.
Her appointment, according to a statement signed by the chairman of the company’s board, W.B. Dabiri, becomes effective Tuesday, April 1, 2025.
She will understudy the Managing Director of Academy Press, Mr Gbenga Ladipo, for one year, when he retires from the organisation on March 31, 2026, after 20 years.
It was disclosed that the selection of Mrs Ogunnubi followed a comprehensive and rigorous selection process carried out by external management consultants to ensure the emergence of a forward-looking and result-oriented leader who aligns with the organisation’s values, vision, and strategic goals.
The new DMD is said to bring to her new role a distinguished track record of managerial experience backed with sound academic and professional certification in Accounting and Master’s in Business Administration (MBA).
She has worked in top management positions in reputable organisations such as UAC of Nigeria Plc, culminating in her appointment as Managing Director of CAP Plc.
Mrs Ogunnubi joined Academy Press as Executive Director for Finance and Business Development in 2023. Her competence spans a broad spectrum of fields, including finance, audit, risk management, sales, marketing, and general management practice.
The statement said she would continue to enjoy the cooperation of the company’s highly professional technical and management team led by the Executive Director for Sales and Operations, Mr Paul Aderibigbe.
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